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Improving the value of your home goes deeper than decorating ideas. Many homeowners believe that installing new floors, faucets, and repainting will increase the value of their homes. However, they overlook the big picture.

As governments are forced to improve emissions and environmental waste, municipalities are forcing new home builders to build environmentally friendly homes. In fact, in England, many municipalities will soon force all homeowners to replace their old, fuel wasting, polluting appliances and heating systems with new environmentally friendly systems.

In many cases, an environmentally friendly home is also healthier. Many people find that their breathing improves and the incidences of flu are reduced after creating an environmentally friendly home.

The first to an eco friendly and healthier home is to replace duct work, heating, and cooling systems with new, energy efficient, and low emission, equipment. This may include using a corn burning furnace instead of a wood fireplace, replacing electric with solar water heaters, or water heaters that heat water as its needed, and updating the furnace to a new energy efficient model.

Energy efficient models should be used in tandem with electronic timers that turn them on when needed, and more importantly, turn them off to eliminate waste.

This is only half of the battle. The next step is to caulk every crack, install vapor barriers, and install new energy efficient doors and windows. This should be done at least a year before the sale of a home so that you can show potential homeowners the low heating bills.

As homeowners become more health conscious they pay more attention to lighting and ventilation. Many homeowners are looking for Feng Shui elements in their homes. They also want to find natural venting. In old homes, venting and windows were placed where they were in balance with the room, or convenient.

Today's windows are placed to maximize natural light, and take advantage of solar heating. This applies to vents too. There is no reason why a room's vents must be confined to windows. Good venting removes contaminants from a room, and can reduce the need for air conditioners. They also reduce the hazard of mold and mildew build-up.

Of course, saving receipts that prove reused and recycled products were used in the home's construction is an invaluable way to add 'green' value to a home. While a person may not buy a home because recycled products were used in the constructions, it does validate the 'environmentally friendly' and energy efficient aspects of the home.

Energy efficient lighting is an often overlooked part of creating an energy efficient home. It is important to use properly installed, and properly laid out lighting.

If you are building a new home, then start from the ground up. Find a local architecture who is familiar with energy efficient designs. Many people don't realize that the placement of rooms and halls can dramatically increase, or reduce, the heating and cooling needs of a home.

Every State has a department dedicated to helping homeowners improve the energy efficient and green value of their home. Taking advantage of their advice will improve the value of your home today, and in the future.